Category: Uncategorized

-Rajesh

Introduction:

An open house is an event where the children display whatever they have done over the year in their classroom and invite parents, friends, teachers, and everyone to have a look at their creativity, innovation, and progress. This event took place on 26/03/2024.

Stem Land also supports Udavi school students in stem education, and I am supporting 6^th grade. I was informed about the event 10 days before the event was going to happen. I thought of doing something new with the children that could be displayed on that day.

I met our Steward Sanjeev Ranganathan to ask if we could do something new in electronics with the Mathegramming team’s support. After completing the conversation with Sanjeev Anna, I came to learn from him the importance of being principled. He was so principled that he said to me that doing new just to show parents is not valuable.

Instead, do what you were doing with them over the year. He also opened space and opportunity for the children to have sessions on electronics with the help of the Mathegrammimg team before the event and then display what they have learned in that session.

Then with the help of the Mathergramming team, who always work for children’s education by doing scratch projects, electronics projects, and RTL, gave a session on electronics.

Concepts covered in the session:

• Difference between voltage, current, power and energy,
  • Energy Calculation,
  • Battery backup required to setup invertor,
  • Resistance.

Outcome after the session:

• students learned the difference between voltage, current, charge, power, and energy,
• Students were able to calculate their electricity bill,
• Students were able to estimate how long they can power their house using an inverter battery,
• The Minimum voltage which would shock them,
• what a resistor does and the importance of a resistor in a circuit.

 The mindset of children before the session:

• If there is no power in their house, students said current cut, no voltage is coming, power cut,
• Some students thought that a 9V battery can shock them.

What children did at the open house:

1. Energy calculation

They explained how to calculate the energy consumption to their parents with the help of a chart that they made during the session. The energy that each electrical appliance consumes was made clear to parents. It gave a sense of high energy-consuming appliance to them.

1. Understanding of Voltage

The water tank example that the children learned in the session helped them understand voltage with ease.

They also showed a demo of an LED light connection. The minimum voltage requires for the light. How voltage acts to brighten the LED.

1. Resistance

With the help of a multimeter, the children showed a demo of finding the resistance of the body. From this they were able to find the minimum voltage at which it could hurt them .

Robotics (Mindstorm):

The children did an EV3 Raptor. This was made by the whole class. Each student involved themselves by splitting each work among themselves. Few gathered the parts, few worked on the head, the tail, the body, and few on wiring. Finally, all of them were able to complete it and make it work. This was fascinating to children and the parents were thrilled with what their child was able to do.

Insights and experience from parents:

          I was amazed to see that my child was explaining to me how the Electricity bill was calculated and the consumption of electrical appliances we had at home. It also made me wonder how come at a young age they were able to understand. I would like to thank the teachers for introducing concepts at a very young which would give them confidence. Proud to say that I have learned from my child which I was not taught in my school.

            All the projects made by the students were excellent. I was happy to see what my child was able to do. She has always been dull at home. The way she has made projects doesn’t seem she is like that. I understood that the school environment has made her show her abilities. Looking forward to making the home environment the same as school so that she can be at her best and express her abilities at home too.

            My child kept reminding me about the open house two days before the event. I could see his enthusiasm in showing me what he had learned at school. To my surprise, he showed me a robot which he made. I was surprised to see it. He also demonstrated it. It was made by a group of students. I am happy for all of them.

            In the beginning, I thought that the teacher would have made it the most. But later found that the teachers were just being the guide. I found it by the way the children demonstrated it. They demonstrated it so nicely and clearly, this showed how well they have learned these.

Insights from people who supported and attended the open house:

Rajesh – Math Teacher

          My name is Rajesh and I stand for care and integrity for myself and others. When I want to see a difference in education, I open new opportunities with my effort and the partner with whom I enroll. I am also clear about what the enrolling partner could do in this process. This allows children to be at their best with their ability to do things on their own, with creativity and understanding, this makes a lot of difference. Even the parents get confidence and belief in their child and the way I teach which is always going to be for their good. This confidence helps the parents to move from the fear and worries about the mark and focus the child to be at their best and attain the maximum of knowledge.

Dinesh – a person who supported electronic session

          My name is Dinesh, I stand for care and perseverance for myself and others. While taking electronics sessions for Udavi school students, I felt that I added value to their learning. With Small examples about speed, distance, and time, I was able to make them understand better. From this, I learned that the things that I already know help me convey what I want to convey clearly.

Ajay:

          My name is Ajay, I stand for self-awareness for myself and others. During the Open House conducted at Udavi School, I noticed that many things reminded me of my school days when I used to participate actively. I thoroughly enjoyed the children’s performances in short plays, songs, and dances. Additionally, seeing their projects in the classrooms, such as the robotic snakes made with Mindstorms, was very impressive. Observing the children with their projects made me happy and excited.

Sivaguruprasath:

          My name is Sivaguruprasath, and I stand for courage, full potential, and equanimity for myself and others. I have learned about children’s creativity in coloring, crafts, and their experiments in electronics, which were amazing and inspiring. The potential they have shown in creation goes beyond the margin. Additionally, I have learned that education is an unending process, and I must continue learning by stepping out of my comfort zone.

SandhiyaBala:

          My name is Sandhiya and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I have learned in the open house, to see the quality of work children did and the courage to explore and present it to others. I see the preparation to present before is very important.

Sri Bhavani:

My name is Sri Bhavani, I stand for Equality and Love for myself and others. In this open house, children were very excited to present their learnings to their parents and visitors with a demonstration. Two groups of children showed interest in electronics and Mindstorm robot. Children from these groups also enthusiastically presented their projects. I acknowledge STEM teachers who supported children to learn electronics and make projects. I see the quality of care and responsibility. I will retain these values in my life.

Poonguzhali:

          My name is Poonguzhali. I stand for courage for myself and others. In the Udavi open house, children and teachers worked together, created thoughtful crafts, and visualized study materials. All the children engaged in participating and showcasing their creative ideas. In this open house event, every child engages themselves through their mental and physical being. I was able to notice children’s full potential, perseverance, and courage. I will use all these qualities in my life.

-Sanjay, Ajay, Jayabharathi, Sivaguru and Prem

During the Sunday morning Vipassana half day courses, I notice the following youth come quite often and sit for part of or the entirety of the 4 hours

1. Jayabharathy: Shifu-ian
2. Ajay: Software Team
3. Siva Guru Prasath: Software team
4. Prem: Mathegramming Team

These half day courses are optional for the youth. They are encouraged to attend but it is not compulsory. As part of the year end reflection, it is a good idea to gather their reflections. Here are some of the questions

1. Motivation for attending half day course?
2. How often attend Sunday course?
3. How many hours when they do attend?
4. Daily practice?
5. How many hours per week?
6. What motivates them to practice/attend sunday?
7. What obstacles come in to practice/attend?

REFLECTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL YOUTH

1. Jayabharathy: Vipassana has helped me to control my emotions and be equanimous.  I first started doing it just because everyone in the organization was doing it. But as i kept on practicing it, i observed some changed within myself. I started accepting reality which was not easier for me earlier. I started keeping calm when i get angry which was again the toughest of all earlier. Knowingly or unknowingly, vipassana has helped me greatly to look at life in a different manner which i had no clue about before practicing it.

• Prem: My name is Premkumar I stand for courage and Equality for myself and others by attending Vipassana I realise that everything is temporary and it will change after sometime and I notice that doing vipasanna makes me mentally strong and it paves the way to a solution of a problem and it did help me in many circumstances which I felt challenging to solve the issues. I have anger issues from childhood I can’t control my emotions after vipasanna I feel I am more controlled and more calm and I noticed some sense of patience 

• Ajay: My reflection about attending half-day Vipassana course is to retain the daily practice and to keep my mind healthy and bring the sense of calmness and make myself more aware of the surroundings and show love and compassion for every one. When I practice Vipassana I am able to concentrate more and it helps me to solve the problem faster and give different perspective.

• SivaGuru: While on doing Sunday vipassana, I notice that it was really helpful for my upcoming work schedules and also, I spend some useful time to enrich my mental health by doing it in a peaceful environment. I felt calm and thoughtful on meditating.

• Sanjay: I am happy to see people come and sit. I am happy to see the youth at StemLand come and sit. I am happy to know that they are benefiting from the practice in some way or otherwise they would not have come. I am happy that whatever effort I am exerting in this direction does have takers, does have beneficiaries who are able to see the benefit for themselves and not have it explained to them. That gives meaning to the effort being exerted. Talking to the also helps me with my own practice, as I too get to explore why my practice goes up or down. We are not all that different from one another and I find their responses useful to my own practice. I chose the questions as I was curious about what motivates people to practice, increase their practice, what is an obstacle to practice, are they able to isolate benefits to the practice itself etc. This is based on my own reflections on vipassana practise.

~ Sivaguruprasath, Ajay, Poonguzali, Arunkumar, Rajesh, Sandhiya S, Soundhariya, Sharmila, Premkumar M, Nithya Sandhosh, Tamilarasan, Premkumar, Poovizhi, Duraisamy, SandhiyaBala

The drama rehearsal happened for about two and half days for the stage preparation, ensuring correctness and coordination of the characters. Additionally, adjustments to lighting for scenes and sound checks were completed for the dance and songs.

The children from grades 4 to 8 from our school contributed their roles in the play, and two teachers played the roles of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Our STEM teachers have guided and supported the children in making drama utilities, coordinating rehearsal and managing stage play.

The final stage play presented on March 7, 2024, on a Thursday evening (on a day before Sivarathri) at the Bharat Nivas auditorium in Auroville. Thirumuraiyai kanda cholan (jpUKiwiaf; fz;l Nrhod;) – The story depicted occurred over 1000 years ago during the rule of King Raja Raja I, who discovered the Thirumurai (inscriptions written by followers for Lord Shiva, notably Appar, Sundarar, Sambandhar, Manikkavasagar) with the help of Nambiyandaar Nambi and Thiruvasagam story by Manikkavasagar. It was enacted by children as depicted in the inscription. The drama showcased our cultural heritage and history. It also showcased the challenges and the values of different individuals and how they overcame them using universal values and inner capacities. We believe that by bringing our culture and history to life, we can foster a deeper appreciation and understanding among our audience, connecting them with the profound roots of our identity and instilling a meaning and purpose to life.        

Here are the reflections from out STEM teachers on their contribution,

Sivaguruprasath:

My name is Sivaguruprasath and I stand for courage, full-potential and equanimity for myself and for others. On participating in supporting the drama I feel so satisfied and also I learned about my own potential in managing and coordinating such an event. During rehearsal of the event we planned the positioning of backdrop setup, Nataraja statue, Palanquin(pallakku) and giving feedback for the children performance.

During the final play, I took up the role of changing collar microphones for the children according to their respective characters they were playing. The children cooperated well, and I also managed them for their next scenes.

Ajay:

My name is Ajay, and I stand for self-awareness for myself and others. From the Nayanmargal drama, I learned that team effort will pay off in the end. It helps people understand each other and listen to their ideas. I noticed myself putting my full potential into different roles: preparing materials, organizing people, and involving everyone to support seating allocation for children in the auditorium and distributing snacks. I felt happy, and this was a new experience in supporting such big events at our school.

Poonguzhali:

My name is Poonguzhali I stand for courage for myself and others. I volunteered to support the drama. I engaged in making questions based on the story and took part in background painting, craft jewellery, and decoration. I observed the quality of deep listening. This quality helped me to exchange my thoughts and enabled me to accomplish the tasks I did.  Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, I feel grateful to the school.

Arunkumar:

I was appointed as a microphone manager, and that’s a task for which I have to be honest and on time. Constantly engaging with changing microphones to the next character’s. It’s more challenging work than I have done for a while. Moreover, the little acknowledgement and recognition from a stranger urge me to engage in such activities. The children were aware that their voice should reach out to everyone in auditorium they ensured that before going to perform the mic is turned on and after coming they voluntarily asked us to turn it off.  In order to not make noise while others performing.

Rajesh:

My name is Rajesh, I stand for care and integrity for myself and others. I learned that When I am at my full potential, the outcome I can produce is higher and by the output, people get inspired. This can generate a new system in which everyone can involve themselves. I also learned how consistent I can be when I say ‘yes’ and get that done. This creates a huge trust in me. Throughout the practice and final performance, whatever support I was asked, I first said ‘Yes’, then we Did it. In doing the work, I was able to involve everyone from my team. As I was aware of what each individual could do, it was easier to get the required output from each individual.

Sandhiya S:

My name is Sandhiya. I stand for progress as happiness, and love for myself and others. I am happy to be part of the drama presentation. It was so nice to see children participating actively, fully involved, and working as a team. I noticed that everyone who was part of the drama, and those who supported, did so with goodwill. Not everyone needs to be instructed; when there is space for self-development, responsibilities, and creativity grow and show up so well. Many involved in that drama loved their work, and this was clearly seen during the presentation. Children had overcome their stage fear; they enjoyed from preparation to the presentation.

Soundhariya:

My name is Soundhariya. I stand for courage for myself and others. When I worked with the Nayanmargal drama, I noticed the collaboration of teamwork with full potential. All the students were able to participate with courage and break their silos. So I felt very enthusiastic throughout the event.

Sharmila:

My name is Sharmila, and I stand for courage and patience for myself and others.  Students of Isai Ambalam performed the “Nayanmargal drama” on the occasion of Sivarathri in Bharath Nivas. Stemland teachers volunteered to help them make their jewels and backdrops. On the day of presenting the drama, the students were all ready with their costumes, and the whole stage was filled with positivity and happiness. While seeing the children performing their roles, I felt very happy and accomplished. I had a wonderful experience and I’m happy to be a part of this drama.

Premkumar M:

My name is Premkumar Murugan. I stand for self-confidence and equality for myself and others. Through the Nanyanmargal drama, I have gained many new insights. I am extremely excited to witness the performance of the Nayanmargal story by the Isai children. I deeply appreciate the talent of these Isai children. When it comes to speaking or acting on stage, I often feel fearful due to my age. However, I am delighted and pleasantly surprised to see these young children act without any fear. Participating in this drama has been a truly enriching experience for me.

NithyaSandhosh:

My name is Nithyasandhosh, I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. I proudly supported “Nayanmargal” drama performed by the children of Isai Ambalam School. The children are performing drama in the center of the stage after a screenplay finished. we Dhinesh, Rajesh, and I eagerly worked together with the children to change the backdrop. I am so much involved in that drama. I am developing friendship with people and the children’s dedication and sense of responsibility filled me with joy.

Tamilarasan:

My name is Tamil, and I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others. I have learned that education is not only about studies. Each individual has their own identity and capability. When multiple sources are provided to children, they get the opportunity to develop themselves and their confidence. As a teacher, I have learned that I need to involve other activities that include creativity and create space for children where they can explore themselves and learn. I supported drama sessions with involvement and took on responsibilities such as supporting the setup of the stage backdrop and preparing the pallaku. Later, I was assigned to make a video of the whole process. This video gives a brief view of the preparation, efforts, and goals of the people involved. I was happy to see this video during the performance.

Premkumar:

My name is Premkumar I deeply care about for me and others. The drama was interesting and the students done it very well. The songs were sung in the background were very good. The acting of the children showed their full potential and the efforts were taken by them and the drama also showed the importance of team work which leads to success.

Poovizhi:

My name is Poovizhi and I deeply care about Equality and equity for myself and others.
After watching the drama, I learned about the stories of Nayanmars and their importance. The way the children performed was admirable; they were confident and clearly enjoyed what they were doing. They didn’t just act out the drama but also connected with the universal values behind the story. This connection made me think about spirituality in a deeper way, rather than just following blindly.

Sandhiya Bala:

My name is Sandhiya Bala, I deeply care about courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I learned the dedication and confidence of each child’s effort . While I support the childen. I felt the spirituality in a deeper inner values of mine.

Duraisamy:

My Name is Duraisamy Pandurangan, I deeply care about dignity, wisdom and freedom for myself and others. After watching the drama performed by the children at Bharath Nivas, I had a wonderful experience. The story of Raja Raja Cholan and Maanikkavasagar deeply connects with values of wisdom and care.

Preethi, Sivasankar, Premkumar,Ilakya and Soundhariya

Women’s Engineering College from Puducherry explored STEMland for Learning. This visit was a special chance for students to learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in a fun and interactive way. The Mathegramming Team welcomed them warmly and explained what STEMland is all about and the importance of the ground rules. We focused on working together, being respectful, and creating a friendly space for everyone

The Mathegramming Team showed the college students how to teach STEM stuff to children in a fun way. After being given a deep explanation to students, we started to explore the games, solving Puzzles, materials, and modules from scratch. The trip made them want to find new ways of teaching and got them excited to try out creative ways that can make students interested and help them understand and enjoy learning .

As the hour came to a close, the students left STEMland with a fresh passion for STEM education. This visit was a small step towards making STEM more enjoyable and available to explore for everyone.

Reflection from our Organization members

My name is Sivaguruprasath and I stand for Courage, Full potential, and Equanimity for myself and others. Stepping up and sharing the learnings exhibits the values of full potential and dedication. I see myself as responsible for guiding students to play STEM games and explaining how they enhance Mathematics knowledge. Students were very much eagerly involved and learned games.

My name is Jayabharathi and I stand for courage and care for myself and others. It was a different experience interacting with college students when they visited our campus. They understood the difference between the usual education system and the change our organization is bringing out during the first minutes itself. I was asked to explain what Udavi taught me apart from education. It was a great chance for me to explain about the values that I gained from Udavi apart from education. They expressed their views about their way of learning which they felt was boring since it was mostly filled with mugging up concepts. I interacted personally with a few students and they were eager to know more about our organization.  They were fascinated by the various puzzles and games they experienced playing within the time given to them. A few students expressed their interest in visiting us back and taking part in our activities in the future. I noticed myself being in my stand while rendering my support to help them experience this environment and make them understand the true purpose of education as far as I can.

My Name is Sribhavani. I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others. In this session, I have noticed how youngsters are curious to learn maths using materials. This session allows me to learn new games and puzzles and support others to learn. Each one in the crew had a good time to see how schools are encouraging children to learn things differently. I see the rigor in the students to explore more about STEMLAND.

My name is Sundaresan. I stand for happiness and courage for myself and others. Interacting with college students brings back memories of my own college days. I can connect their current learning experiences with the lessons I learned during my college days. After the students learned about algebraic formulas involving cubes, they began to realize that the education system primarily emphasizes rote memorization for grades rather than fostering a deep understanding of the subject. To illustrate this point, I introduced the Dimension game to the students. Initially, they viewed it as just a game, but after my explanation, they discovered the hidden benefits of playing. The game helps improve concentration, presence of mind, honesty, and the ability to think of solutions within a given time.

My name is Ajay I deeply care about happiness and self-awareness for myself and everyone. During this visit, I can recall some of the games from stemland and support the Mathegramming team on this. There were about 60 students I explained the games like Abacan, sputnik, and some puzzles. They were excited and they wanted to spend more time in each game but they couldn’t. In the end, some of them shared what they had learned.

~ Mathegramming team, Sundaresan, Sharmila, Poonguzhali, Jayabharathi, Ajay, Sri Bhavani, Duraisamy, Choudery

Learn the principles of Electronic and critical components

The core values of Mathegramming Academy are responsibility,equality,and courage to create.We (Mathegramming team) wanted Children to connect electronics to the world around them and they will relate Electronics to the Mathematics they have been learning.

Our team wanted to have the following shifts:

• From Theory to Hands-On Practice
• From classroom Learning to Real-World Exploration
• From Confusion to Clarity in Learning
• Moving from Being scared to trying new things to embracing new learning
• From Disempowering isms like classism, groupism and genderism to equality and creative learning together

The Mathegramming Hackathon was set up to encourage creativity and learning at every stage. We conducted the workshop for around 40 children and the children were from different schools. Our team mixed the children from different schools. So that children got different perspectives, encouraging working together, increased their communicative skills.

We started the day with an reminder about our Stand and fears, by knowing what I stand for or care about I can transcend my fears and work at their full potential.

We talked about the difficulty in learning electronics

• it is something we can see the impact of, but cannot see directly.
• Most the terms are known but the distinction is unclear e.g. the power has come, is there voltage, is there current. and all used as synonyms. Related to this there are too many units that appear unrelated.
• You can go over a large range of values – kilo ohms, to micro ampheres and requires some grounding in Engineering units and some Mathematics.

Then we dived into Electronics, by using the minimum mathematics of Multiplication and two hidden division stories. Using this simple idea, we introduced how to calculate power, current, Voltage, Charge, Energy. We also used only a few units for these that allows children to correlate between the quantities. We then applied this to our real life of understanding how much energy we consume. In time we analyzed how much energy would have been used to do the workshop itself on backup power and how much battery would have been used.

For resistance we use the concept of body resistance students and knew about their actual body resistance using multimeter with that they knew current and resistance were inversely proportional to each other and students also estimated that at what voltage they would get shock. Students checked if it is possible to light an LED through their body resistance (can you?) and also learned the importance of resistor in series with the LEDs.

From the Water Tank analogy students knew about the concept of voltage, current, resistance and energy. We introduced about the precautions while using multimeter for safety purpose. Students knew about how to use the multimeter to measure voltage, current, resistance and how to check the connectivity in the circuit. Students designed their own circuit for the required current flow in the circuit.

We introduced about the battery, resistor, LED, variable resistor, capacitor and also their symbols with that students knew about the symbols of the components.So,that they able to draw the circuit diagram and we showed the sensor(LDR) by showing the demo how it worked students gave different perspective how to use LDR for their circuit.Capacitor as a bucket if a battery is like a reservoir of charge by worked in it. Students knew that more the capacity in the capacitor more the charge it can hold and they saw the working of capacitor by charging using the battery and discharging using the LED.

When the challenges were allocated for each team I saw the enthusiasm with which children learn with engagement, We also saw team work worked well with different school students and each students shared their perspective and some students convenience why their perspective of approaching the problem was correct and some students struggled to understand and hesitated to do the task. students from different schools didn’t isolate themselves stepped up for their new friends worked as a team and got their output from that I saw the Leadership quality in that student and I saw a good team work among the students.

After the workshop came to an end students shared their learnings in the workshop and also shared what they learned about themselves in the workshop by doing the workshop I realised that we (Mathegramming team) added something useful to their life. We had many stdents who had not registered beforehand and our colleagues stepped up for us and supported us in organising the event and I saw the quality of care and that moment brought every one together.

Some of the reflections from our mentors in the workshop:

My name is Sundaresan,I stand for happiness and courage for myself and for others. While working with new children at the hackathon, I learned how to approach them effectively. I realized that I shouldn’t guide them with only wanting to win, but rather focus on their learning new skills and knowledge that will benefit in their future. I was impressed to see how they weren’t struggling with the calculation of power consumption of fans and lights, which showed me their strength in mathematics. Each child in my group has different talents: one excels in Scratch programming beyond my expectations, while another explains the project very well. Reflecting on this event, I recognized what I missed in my own childhood.

My name is Sharmila. I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. This electronic hackathon gave me a chance to contribute my knowledge to students regarding electronics. Students were excited and curious to know about electronics and how they are used in our daily lives. During the hackathon, the students quickly mingled with each other. They also shared their thoughts in the group while working on the tasks that we gave them. The hackathon showcased the values of equality, responsibility, and the courage to create. It demonstrated the transition from individual to group learning, with strong communication between mentors and mentees. Overall, the event emphasized the importance of electronics and their usage in our daily life.

My name is Poonguzhali I stand for courage for myself and others. I could see the values of STEM Land throughout the tournament: Equality responsibility and courage to create. I could see individual learning to group learning. There was good communication between the children and facilitators. We were breaking silos. The children were able to connect real-time examples with the electronic concepts.  I learned some basic electronics concepts from this workshop. It stimulated my interest to learn even more in the future. I felt excited throughout the event.

My name is Jayabharathi, I stand for Equality for myself and for others. The electronics hackathon helped me contribute my knowledge to the children. I was able to see the team work and the coordination among the children of different organizations. It helped me to bring out my universal values (care and confidence) into action. The curiosity of the children after each step of the experiments it helped me to develop my skills to teach them in a simplified manner. Apart from the technical part, children were able to mingle with each other very easily and they were able to help each other. The children were encouraging each other when other teams won the prize. I noticed that they were fostering leadership and i would also practice the same. This hackathon gave me an exposure to experience unity and curiosity with the team members as well as the children.

My name is Ajay, and I stand for love, happiness, and self-awareness for myself and others. My experience at the electronics hackathon with children was amazing. Initially, they learnt about themselves and then moved into the concept of energy consumption. They were able to calculate how much energy they used for the workshop and learnt about units of power, energy, current, and voltage in a different way. It turned into a tournament at the end. I found the part was finding out the body resistance of each member using a multimeter very interesting. As a team, we helped each other and took responsibility to claim the first prize for our team of children. We also assisted other teams’ children to complete their tasks so they could understand, what I learnt I have shared it with others.

My name is Sri Bhavani. I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others. In this Hackathon, our team created an opportunity for the children to work with other school children to get the essence of team work to achieve the goals. My favorite part in this event was that one representative was requested to share their learning to represent their team at random. In this, team members encouraged the team representative to share their team learnings. Children were able to notice their fears during presentation as well as competition, then they were also be able to still themselves to act from their values. Overall, children as well as facilitators enjoyed the event and Mathegramming team, all facilitators, and students acted from their full potential to make this event happen.

My name is Duraisamy, I stand for Dignity, wisdom and freedom for myself and others. Mentoring kids about electronics and how they’re part of everyday life is something new for them. Understanding the different parts and symbols is a first step. It helps them see how things work and sparks their curiosity to learn more. Explaining electronics to kids in simple terms not only helps them understand the world around them but also encourages them to explore and ask questions. It’s important to lay a basic foundation that they can build upon as they grow, fostering a lifelong interest in learning and discovery.

My name is Choudery. I stand for justice and equality for my self and others. In the electronics tournament I just came to have a look how children were doing. Then I sat with a team at random. I have noticed children are curious to learn electronics and doing their tasks one by one. Then I start to teach a child and explain how seven segment display works. One child understood the logic behind the seven-segment display and started to do it by own. This made the other children in the team to curious. The children came to me and ask how to do. Then I ask the children to ask the child who was doing it. The team them learned from him. Here I noticed the curiosity of learning, peer learning and teamwork. This electronic workshop and tournament really helpful for children to have more ideas and thoughts about how the real world working with electronics.

~ Sharmila, Santhosh, Poonguzali, Preethi, Nithyasandhosh , Premkumar Murugan

Students of Isai Ambalam School decided to stage the “Nayanmargal” (saints in the Shiva) drama for the occasion of Sivarathiri and how their songs have made it to us now. The creation of backdrops played a crucial role in bringing the production to life. Over a period of six weeks, we embarked on the journey of painting these backdrops, encountering various challenges and experiences along the way.

Initial Challenges Encountered:

One of the initial difficulties we faced was sourcing the right materials after finalizing the scenes of the drama to be displayed. As it was our first-time painting on such large cloth we did not have confidence that we will be able to do it. We decided to create draft paintings on smaller cloth pieces to test our abilities. Upon seeing the results, we gained confidence in our skills. We then prepared a list of materials required for the painting and provided it to the organizer, Anita akka.

Step-by-Step Painting Process:

Conceptualization: Initially, we planned to paint four backdrops: 1) a larger flowing Vaigai river with trees and bushes on both banks, 2) a temple gopuram with trees and people, 3) Nandhi facing sideways with four pillars, and 4) a palace. Later, we added a fifth backdrop—the Kailash Mountain which was painted by Arham.

Sketching: With the concept in mind, we began sketching rough outlines of the backdrops on the cloth and finalized them with Anita akka. This stage allowed us to experiment with different compositions and perspectives to ensure that each backdrop would complement the unfolding story on stage.

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Layering Colors: Once the sketches were finalized, we embarked on the colorful journey of painting. Using acrylic paints, we meticulously layered colors to create depth and texture, bringing each scene to life with vibrant hues and subtle shading.

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Detailing and Finishing: As the paintings progressed, we focused on adding intricate details and finishing touches to enhance realism and evoke emotion. Every aspect of the backdrops was infused with care and attention to detail. Adding details to the backdrops took more time to complete.

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Collaboration and Feedback: Throughout the painting process, collaboration and feedback played a vital role in refining our work. We regularly consulted with Anita akka, friends, and fellow artists to ensure that the backdrops aligned seamlessly with the overall vision of the production.

Overall Insights on Painting:

Painting the backdrops for “Nayanmargal” was not just about applying colors to clothe; it was a journey of exploration and expression. As artists, we discovered the power of storytelling through visuals, transcending language barriers to convey the rich tapestry of emotions woven into the fabric of the drama.

In conclusion, the creation of backdrops for “Nayanmargal” was a testament to the transformative power of art.  When the backdrops were hung upon the stage they looked really good and amazing. As a artist we felt happy and accomplished.

Individual Insight on Painting:

My name is Sharmila, and I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. As I love painting, I volunteered to paint backdrops for the “Nayanmargal” drama. Initially, we were a bit nervous about painting on such large cloth pieces and whether we could finish on time. However, working as a team, we were able to overcome our doubts. After completing each backdrop, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction fueled our confidence. The praise from Anita akka and others made us feel good and motivated us to carry on and complete the backdrops on time. I had a wonderful team to support me throughout. Through this activity, I noticed qualities such as care, love, taking responsibilities, deep listening, courage to create, and the ability to plan and execute effectively.

Insight of Santhosh

Doing backdrop painting for the Nayanmargal drama was a wonderful experience because this was the very first time I made big-picture drawings and paintings. when I completed my first backdrop of natural scenery with the Vaigai River I felt satisfied and also I had a wonderful painting team to support me with other backdrops. From this activity I learned my life lessons like stillness is very important, focus on what we doing now, full concentration, preplanning plays a major role and more creative imagination.

My name is Poonguzhali and I stand for courage for myself and others. I volunteered to paint the backdrops for the drama. Whenever I had time, I helped with the backdrops. As a team, we worked to our full potential, and I felt accomplished with the work. When the backdrops were hung on the stage, they helped in setting the scene for the play. It was more satisfying and added colors to the atmosphere of the performance. Being a part of the creative process made me feel courageous, happy, and proud of our work.

My name is Preethi. I stand for courage, kindness and perseverance for myself and others. When I’m doing drama backdrop painting, I get to learn lot about myself. when I was painting it reflected my thoughts, emotions, and creativity. It helps me to understand myself better and appreciate the beauty within me. I also realize making mistakes is a part of the process. Sometimes the imperfections make the painting even more beautiful. While doing new things and making mistakes helps me grow and learn. Through painting, I learn to be patient and keep going, even when things don’t work out the way I want. When I paint with others, I learnt lot from them and inspire one another to create beautiful things. It’s really a wonderful experience that I really loved

My name is Nithyasandhosh. I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. I volunteered to painting a backdrop for Nayanmargal drama. I love painting, before I have done painting in wall and paper but Its was my first time I am painting in a big cloth. I felt happy to paint with my team, and learn from each other. When I was painting I felt more focused in what I’m doing.  After finishing our 4 backdrops, I felt responsible and integrity.

My name is Premkumar Murugan . I stand for self confidence and equality for myself and others. My insight for painting Nayanmargal drama. So far I have only experienced painting on papers, As this was my first time of painting on big clothe, I felt nervous but when I met with my group I felt, I could draw and then I tried drawing and painting and it worked out well. After completing the backdrops, I felt complete and happy. It also helped to recognize my talent within me. It gave me a wonderful experience.

~ Ajay, Sundaresan, Sandhiya.B, Rajesh, Murali, Premkumar, Preethi

One of our values is responsibility. This includes taking responsibility of our life and health. Few of us decided to participate in the Auroville Marathon event. While most of us participated in a 10k run, Prem did a half marathon (21 kms). Some of us prepared leading to the event a few others did a bit of a warm up for a week leading up to the challenge. Here are our reflections.

The Auroville Marathon was held on Sunday 18^th February 2024. In addition to the marathon and half marathon and a 10k run is available. It is one of the largest and most popular running events in India, with participants from all parts of India which is publicized by past runners through word of mouth or blogs like this.

The event is non-commercial and organized purely for the joy of running. It considers all the finishers as winners.

This year our team participated in the marathon. For that, our steward Sanjeev Ranganathan encouraged us to be physically fit to do the push-ups and sit-ups during the morning meeting every day for a week before the run. This helped us to stretch ourselves as physically fit. It helped us to complete the marathon without any physical injuries.

Insights

Ajay– My name is Ajay, and I stand for happiness and self-awareness for myself and others. I noticed my ability to overcome my fear of not being good enough to complete the marathon. Somehow, I was motivated by the senior people who ran alongside us. This boosted my morale and helped me complete the 10K at the marathon event. It also motivated me to participate in more marathons with proper training.

Sundaresan – I regularly practiced running 5km to prepare for the AV marathon. This practice helped me during the actual marathon. I learned that I can keep going even when things get tough. Finishing the 10km race without stopping made me feel confident. Even though my legs hurt halfway through, I didn’t give up. I realized that pushing through the pain is important to reach my goals. I want to keep this determination in my life. The marathon brought people together and allowed me to meet new friends.

             When I reached the 9km mark, I felt a burst of energy that helped me run faster. Finally, I finished the marathon in 1 hour and 10 minutes (1:10). Now, I want to try a half marathon (21km) next time. This experience taught me that taking small steps can lead to big accomplishments.

Sandhiya- My name is Sandhiya Bala, and I stand for courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. I have learned that by consistently practicing activities such as exercise and walking, the discomfort associated with them diminishes over time.

Taking this initiative, I gained more confidence and completed 10 km marathons after my delivery. I felt a sense of achievement, and I’ve realized that regular practice empowers me to accomplish anything in life.

I acknowledge our steward Sanjeev Ranganathan for encouraging us to maintain physical fitness by incorporating push-ups and sit-ups into our morning meetings every day. This practice has helped me to improve my physical well-being, and I intend to continue using it in my life.

Rajesh- My name is Rajesh and I stand for care and integrity for myself and others, I learned that before leaping into anything the preparation part is important. My organization played a vital part in preparation as we spent a few minutes in sit-ups and pushups every morning.

I also learned life is a long journey like a marathon, which has ups and downs. What matters is how equanimous I am, and how determined I am to explore the journey. Also, in the long run like life or organization or say marathon, Partners play a vital role. Where they encourage courage throughout the hard run. When I am completely down, they give me that inspiration and a positive mindset to continue. I noticed this when I was running with a person throughout the marathon.

Murali- My name is Murali and I stand for happiness and Equality. I noticed that after completing my 10 km marathons, I noticed how I was physically fit.

Premkumar-My name is Premkumar I deeply care about courage and equality for myself and others. While running the 21 kilometers at the beginning I felt I couldn’t finish it but seeing every other person passionately running towards the goal inspired me to finish the marathon. I felt like I was challenged and motivated. It was a great journey that created a meaningful impact on my life.

Preethi –My name is Preethi. I stand for courage, kindness, and perseverance for myself and others. While participating in a marathon, I get to know how tough I am by not giving up when I’m tired or facing challenges. Running a marathon helps me realize how strong my mind can be when I need to keep going. I understand more about how my mind and body work together and how to take care of myself. Staying focused and determined during the race helps me understand how determined I can be. I ran the marathon along with my friend. When I felt tired, he encouraged me, which helped me complete the marathon. Therefore, I acknowledge Ajay for his support and care, and I will carry it with me in my life. Finishing a marathon makes me feel proud of myself, which feels awesome.

Sundaresan, Preethi, Sivaguru Prasath, Sri Bhavani, Ajay, Narmadha, Nithya Sandhosh

At STEM land we embrace unending education and constant progress. Auroville brings many opportunities for this. For the commencement of the Auroville festival in 2024, the Yoga gathering happened at Matrimandir Amphitheater, Auroville, from Feb 22 to Feb 26. From STEMland, a few teachers attended the Yoga session along with students from Udavi and Isai Ambalam schools. There were also children from other schools.

Here are the few reflections from our STEM teachers on attending Yoga session,

Sundaresan:

The yoga masters teach different types of yoga and pranayamas throughout the entire week. It makes me feel healthy for the entire week. They start with Hatha yoga on day 1 by Dr. Mollika Ganguly. Without continuous practice, it causes back pain and body pain for two days. After continuous practice, my body adapted to the pain. Surya Namaskar is taught by S. Srinivasan with the Ramayana story on day 2. The story is related to the 12 asanas, and I enjoyed it. I learned that Surya Namaskar has different types of 12 poses, each taught in its own way. On day 3, Yogic Pranayama and Silence Concentration for ‘the Supramental Manifestation’ are taught by M. Muthukumari.

On day 4, I learned Ashtanga yoga by Velu and Tamil Hymns and Chants by Anandou. I learned three different types of Chants in the session. On day 5, Mantra chanting by Devan and Aravind, and Sounds Meditation and Relaxation by Swaram. From this, I learned how to slowly convey new things to others. I will use this teaching method and calmness in my life. From a sound healing session, I learned to notice my background noises and conversations. After the session, I felt very calm. My mind was clear, and I didn’t feel any stress. The vibrations caused some changes in my body. This session helps me to continue yoga every day. I can feel that I get lots of energy from yoga. For that reason, I can work efficiently the whole day. I decide to teach others what I’ve learned to make it a habit, as well as to keep my health as good as possible.

Preethi:

My name is preethi. I stand for courage,  kindness and perseverance for myself and others. My insight for yoga workshop is I learnt different asanas that help me make my body strong, flexible, and balanced.  I learnt breathing techniques that calm my mind and give more energy. While doing meditation I find out how to relax my mind and focus on the present moment to feel more peaceful. When I do yoga in Mathirmandir,  amphitheater, I feel close to nature. I enjoy hearing birds singing and feeling the cool breeze on my face. It feels like nature is giving me a hug, and it makes me feel calm and peaceful inside. I had a really awesome week, and I had a great experiences.

Sivaguru prasath:

My name is Sivaguru prasath and I stand for courage, full-potential and equanimity for myself and for others. On practicing yoga, I observed that I feel calm, active and flexible and also it was a immense pleasure to do yoga along with children and old-age people which gives us more positive energy and motivation. The day-1 was a like a quick session, we did it continuously, most of the children were felt tired and we motivated them to do it properly and completely. The Surya namaskar we did on the day-2 were taught with the correlation of Ramayana was a different and interesting experience.

On the day-3, we did Pranayama, which improved my breathing and concentration and I found it as the most needful thing for me. On the day-4 we did yoga with some chants and On day-5 they conducted a sound healing session with Swaram team that relaxed my mind and felt like a feather without stress, fear and anxiety. I noticed that I felt active throughout the days when I was practicing yoga and I have to keep my practice day to day to feel energetic and thoughtful.

Sri Bhavani:

My Name is Sri Bhavani, I stand for Love and Equality for myself and others. This time number of members joined from our team for the yoga session has increased compared to the past. Children from Auroville and Auroville outreach schools participated in this session and benefitted. This event also helped us to enhance our physical health. All age groups were participated in this session, this shows physical health has how much importance in all the stages of life. As Sri Aurobindo offered Physical education had three principal aspects:

(1) control and discipline of the functioning of the body;

(2) an integral, methodical and harmonious development of all the parts and movements of the body; and

(3) correction of any defects and deformities.

This session helped me to have disciplined physical activities and utilise it as healing for the body.

Ajay:

The five-day yoga session in the morning at the Amphitheater has been refreshing for me. It helps me keep my body flexible and energetic throughout the day. Going for yoga with children gives me a special feeling in the early morning. Each day, different people shared their way, and I learned various pranayama techniques, Savitri chantings, and on the final day, we had an amazing sound bath from the Svaram team. This year more people from stemland joined so it motivated me to continue doing this and looking forward to the upcoming yoga activities

Narmadha:

The day started with stretching; it had been a long time since I had done yoga, so it was initially difficult for me. However, as the days progressed, I found it easier to perform the yoga asanas, and I noticed a positive difference in myself. Each day brought a unique blend of physical challenges, mindfulness, and spiritual connection. At the end of each session for all five days, we concluded with Savasana and chanting. On the last day, there was a sound bath, during which I could feel my breath and the sensations in my body. This practice was organized in celebration of Auroville’s birthday and took place from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. The morning meditation and yoga routine provided a refreshing start to my day, and I have continued this practice every morning since.

NithyaSandhosh:

My name is Nithyasandhosh, I stand for kindness and equality to myself and others. As I settled onto my mat, the world around me seemed to fade into a gentle blur. With each inhale, I welcomed peace into my being, and with each exhale, I released tension and doubt. In the stillness of the moment, I felt a profound connection with my body and mind. Every stretch, every pose, was a conversation between the two, a dance of harmony and balance. As I flowed through each movement, I embraced the sensation of energy coursing through me, awakening every fiber of my being.

On 24th January 2024, there were 40 Students and Teachers from Rishi Valley School in Andhra Pradesh who came to visit STEM land. The Mathegramming team conducted a two-hour session with them. First, we started the session with Stand and Fear in “Radical Transformational Leadership”. Technology is value neutral and we talked about the values that we would like to embody when we use technology and also my socialized fear that does not support me being my full potential or embody my stand.

These sessions help to break our silos and work as a team in groups. Each student shared their name and qualities in different ways.

Explored STEM Activities

Following the workshop, the children were asked to challenge themselves and take up something they had not done before and the group explored various STEM activities. The students choose activities based on their interests. The categories included Puzzles, Mindstorms, Materials, Craftwork, Electronics, Scratch, and Games.

Showing STEMland concept materials like Integers, dines blocks, and Algebraic Identities to children they can see how these concepts are related to everyday life. Teaching students makes a big positive impact and it helps them to think critically and problem-solving skills. This way of approach not only benefits the children’s educational development but also makes collaborative learning with others.

In the electronics section, students were able to understand the uses of electronic devices such as voltage, resistors, and current, along with a multimeter. They gained knowledge in drawing circuit diagrams and calculating the daily consumption of current in their surroundings.

In the Mindstorm section, we had fun with robots. Step by step, we guided each other on how to build a simple robot, the connection of all the parts, and how to control our robots. It creates enthusiasm and joy in learning.

In the craftwork section, students and teachers participated in crafting Kirigami balls. They started by painting their sheets and observing the connection between creativity and critical thinking. After finishing the Kirigami balls, they made everyone happy.

After completing the learning experience students and teachers shared about what they learned and how it connects to real life.

Reflection from our Organization’s member

My name is Sharmila. I stand for courage and patience for myself and others. On January 24, 2024, a group of students, accompanied by their teachers, visited STEM Land. I volunteered to guide them in exploring the games. The students were enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoyed playing the games introduced to them, which were focused on logic and strategic thinking.  It was heartening to witness their engagement and enjoyment throughout the exploration. I believe that the gaming session at STEM Land provided a perfect platform for both fun and learning.

Udavi school conducted a fair on 26.01.2024. Students from different schools took part and many also conducted games from their side. Some games were based on physical activities and others involved a certain level of critical thinking. Some of the teachers from STEM Land supported children at Isai Ambalam School by making games that they wanted to present. We could see the efforts put in by the students for the preparation of each game. Many teachers and alumni also took part in the event. The participants happily took part in all the games they wished to play and appreciated the involvement and the commitment behind the hard work of the children. The school also organized lunch for all the children and all the participants. We had a nice time having food together. As a whole, the event turned out to be a good learning platform for everyone who took part in it.

Udavi school conducted a fair on 26.01.2024. Students from different schools took part and many also conducted games from their side. Some games were based on physical activities and others involved a certain level of critical thinking. Some of the teachers from STEM Land supported children at Isai Ambalam School with making games that they wanted to present. We could see the efforts put by the students for the preparation of each game. Many teachers and alumni also took part in the event. The participants happily took part in all the games they wished to play and appreciated the involvement and the commitment behind the hard work of the children. The school also organized lunch for all the children and all the participants. We had a nice time having food together. As a whole, the event turned out to be a good learning platform for everyone who took part in it.

Sundaresan:

When I was supporting children in making projects for the Udavi School Fair, I was able to notice the depth to which they can think and apply. While helping, I was able to give inputs to them and based on what they did on their own, I also learned different methods of approaching a task. I saw unity among children when they were allowed to work in groups. I also observed that many children came forward to contribute their best in completing the work. I was able to notice the acceptance among children as each of them shared their ideas for their projects. This was very different from what usually happens in classroom-based education.

Because of such events, unity, and courage to create were built among children from different schools. They were able to gain knowledge by observing and taking part in the games organized by their co-participants. I noticed the quality of leadership among children while conducting the games which usually doesn’t come if they just participate in the games organized by others. The efforts and interest levels of the kids went high as they prepared for the event. Irrespective of whether the project was complicated or simple, each child did their best. I even asked for the project’s use when they were designing. This made them think of the actual purpose of the work they were doing.

Santhosh:

For the Udavi school fair, we decided to make games with our Isai Ambalam school children, in my team I had 2 girls from 7th grade and 2 boys from 8th grade so we decided to make a game with magnets named “Magnetic Game”. In this game we can play with two players, First, we will give 15 magnets to each player so the total number of magnets is 30. we have a square base in cardboard on which a square margin is drawn so now without touching that margin we have to place these 30 magnets one by one, we can place the magnets anywhere within the square, at the same time when a player places a magnet on his turn it might get attracted with magnets placed before so in such case that player should take all attracted magnets. Finally, which player places all 15 magnets without any attraction, they are the ones called the winner.

I have participated in all other games that were organized by children and they were more logical and fun games and I had new ideas of games in this fair. In our school our children participated in this fair and they kept a magnetic game.

Ajay:

I supported Isaiambalam children in preparing games and purchasing materials for the Udavi School fair. The children shared their ideas and created new games. We had only two days to prepare, so the children worked with full potential to make it happen in such a short time. During the preparation, they worked as a team and supported each other. I also learnt some new games at the fair, which were challenging and required logical thinking. Everyone enjoyed the fair and participated in almost all the games and puzzles. This experience taught me the importance of preplanning for every activity I undertake.

Jayabharathy:

The school fair gave me an opportunity to mingle with children. Children from different schools came forward with interesting games. Every time I played a game, I appreciated the child for being creative. I even encouraged other children, who were participants just like me, to be at their full potential while playing the games. When I saw them feeling bad for not winning in a particular game, I talked to them and motivated them to be a little more concentrated when they go to the next game. I noticed the quality of happiness, equality and confidence within myself and people around me. I observed unity and joy among children and adults during the entire event.

Sri Bhavani:

In Udavi school Fair, children and teachers were worked together and created wonderful space for the children from other school to engage and participate in the thoughtful games. Children were created games like maze using hydraulic pressure, recreating the animals using shapes like different types of triangles, quadrilaterals etc. All the children were engaged in participating and showcase their creative ideas with other school children. In this event, every child was able to engage themselves through psychic, mental and physical being.

Poonguzhali:

I enjoyed the fair games with the children. Children were creating many games. They were all united despite of distinct organizations. Children were at their full potential. I took part in many games. I won in button game. It involved a lot of concentration. I was given a handful of buttons, all mixed in colours. This game involved collecting buttons of same colour and putting them in separate bowls within the given amount of time. I felt that it was a good exercise for both my hands and my brain. I noticed that when I played this game, I gained more confidence and concentration.   

Sivaguru Prasath:

It was really fun and entertaining to participate and play the games conducted by our school kids. I learnt how to compete to win each game, not in a single attempt but many trails. Children were really good in conducting games in disciplined and sportive manner. The children prepared game kits and crafts on their own, without anyone else’s help. That was one thing I admired about self-learning.

Narmadha:

The school fair began with an exciting tug-of-war game, it was quite interesting to see everyone getting involved. Following that, students from other schools started organizing games in their stalls. These games tested both physical and mental abilities and were open to everyone – kids, teachers, and others.

What stood out was that there were no prizes for the games, but everyone was still eager to join in. Children were helping each other out and arranging various games. I got a chance to be part of all the games, and it was quite interesting. The main thing I learned from this experience is that I shouldn’t just stick to what I already know. I should explore new opportunities and support others along the way.